At nearby Sierra at Tahoe ski resort, skiers found the conditions good at about 7000 feet. The first snow survey of the new year Wednesday January 2, 2013 found slightly above averages of snow and water content in the Phillips, Calif. meadow near Echo Summit.

California state department water resources survey head Frank Gehrke smiled as he fell off his cross country skies while taking a snow measurement. The first snow survey of the new year Wednesday January 2, 2013 found slightly above averages of snow and water content in the Phillips, Calif. meadow near Echo Summit.

Frank Gehrke (left) of the state survey team clears snow from the depth tube as Sudhakar Talonki (right) watches. The first snow survey of the new year Wednesday January 2, 2013 found slightly above averages of snow and water content in the Phillips, Calif. meadow near Echo Summit.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Frank Gehrke (left) of the state survey team clears snow from the...

Frank Gehrke (left) of the state survey team clears snow from the... Photo-3976883.54613 - SFGate

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Frank Gehrke (right), head of the state survey team, sets out with his snow depth tube in Phillips meadow. The first snow survey of the new year Wednesday January 2, 2013 found slightly above averages of snow and water content in the Phillips, Calif. meadow near Echo Summit.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Frank Gehrke (right), head of the state survey team, sets out with...

Frank Gehrke (right), head of the state survey team, sets out with... Photo-3975284.54613 - SFGate

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Snow boarders took a break on the ample snow at Sierra at Tahoe ski resort not far from Phillips meadow where the survey was taken. The first snow survey of the new year Wednesday January 2, 2013 found slightly above averages of snow and water content in the Phillips, Calif. meadow near Echo Summit.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

Snow boarders took a break on the ample snow at Sierra at Tahoe ski...

Snow boarders took a break on the ample snow at Sierra at Tahoe ski... Photo-3976882.54613 - SFGate

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In the afternoon sun, skiers came down a mountain at Sierra at Tahoe ski resort near Echo Summit. The first snow survey of the new year Wednesday January 2, 2013 found slightly above averages of snow and water content in the Phillips, Calif. meadow near Echo Summit.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

In the afternoon sun, skiers came down a mountain at Sierra at...

In the afternoon sun, skiers came down a mountain at Sierra at... Photo-3975822.54613 - SFGate

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Frank Gehrke, chief of snow surveys for the Department of Water Resources, checks the snow depth during the snow survey at Echo Summit Calif., Monday, April 2, 2012. The survey showed the snow pack to to be 31 inches deep with a water content of 11 inches, which is 39 percent of normal for this site at this time of year. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)